Equities

Corinna Arnold, managing director at RWC, says despite Shinzo Abe's numerous attempts to kick-start Japan's ailing economy in 2014, progress is likely to be patchy at best

‘Key man risk' associated with India in the event something happens to its newest Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, could place India's economic recovery under threat, according to Madhav Bhatkuly, manager of the GAM Star India Equity fund

Nearly all countries are spending less on their defences but Victoria Leggett, portfolio manager, European equities at Union Bancaire Privée, argues recent threats mean not increasing Europe's defence spend is no longer an option for the region

An improving performance trend for European assets versus US assets is a key theme investors should be focusing on currently, says Toby Vaughan, head of fund management - global multi-asset solutions at Santander Asset Management UK

The US economy is better than generally perceived. US real GDP is expected to grow more than 3% in 2015. This would represent the fastest pace since 2005, and is expected to exceed growth in other developed markets.

Troy Asset Management's Hugo Ure has been promoted to co-manager of the Income & Growth investment trust run by Francis Brooke.

'I have to prove I am credible in UK All Companies'

Fund managers have backed Italian banks to continue driving European equities higher this year, aided by a more supportive macro backdrop and beneficial domestic reforms.

Investors fear the US equity market may be the next victim of a soaring US dollar, as the strengthening currency begins to trigger fresh turmoil in emerging markets.

Beini Zhou, portfolio manager of the Matthews Asia Small Companies fund, takes a look at encouraging developments in China's grassroots-level entrepreneurship